Ripping unit for metal cans



June 12, 1928.

A. L. COMBES ETAL RiPPING UNIT FOR METAL CANS Original Filed Nov. 8, 1924' 44512058" L 002714666 I Harry J 1. Keysgzzfl as Q 1 z; MOM

Patented June 12, 1928,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

ABBOTT L. COMBES AND HARRY M KEYSER, OF EAST FALLS CHURCH, V'IRGINTA.

RIPPING UNIT FOR METAL CANS.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No, 748,719, filed ivovcmber 8,192 1.

1926. Serial No. 114,576.

This invention relates to an improved can ripping unit of the general character disclosed in our co-pending application for ripping unit for metal cans, tiled June 8, 1926,

5 Ser. No. 11%,575, and seeks, among other objccts, to provide a unit embodying a carrier ring and ripping element, and wherein the unit will be formed as an integral structure.

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a unit which may be stamped as ablank from suitable sheet metal and the blank fashioned to produce the unit.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a unit which will accom- D plish the several objects and serve the same useful purpose of the ripping unit disclosed in our co-pending application above identilied.

Other objects of the invention not spe- Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from i 5 which the unit is formed.

Figure 4 is a plan view showingthe mannor in which one margin of the blank is rolled to form a ripping element thereon.

Figureo is an enlarged detail cross sec tional perspective view particularly showing the formation of the ripping element.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view showing a slight modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a further slight modification of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, an oblong blank 10, as shown in Figure 3 a ot the drawings, is struck from suitable sheet metal. At One end, the blank is stepped and formed in the blank in alinement with the upper edge of the stepped portion there of is a line of closely spaced slits 11 termi- 5 mating short of the opposite end of the blank.

cifically mentioned in the foregoing will ap- This application filed June 8,

The lower margin of the blank is tightly rolled upon itself, inthe manner best shown in Figure 5, to provide a. ripping element 12 cylindrical in cross section, when the blank is, as shown in F igure 1, bent into annular shape so that the upper margin of the blank provides a carrier ring 13 for said element. Thus, an integral ripping unit embodying a carrier ring and ripping element at tbeinner side of the ring is produced. Preferably, the ripping element lies substantially flush with the line oi slits 11 so that said slits thus serve to weaken the connection between the carrier ring and said'element and, as will be observed, the ripping element is longer than the ring, thus permitting the tree end 1 1 of said element to be bent up at one'jend' of the ring. The ends of the ringrnay or maynot be joined, as found most desirable.

111 Figure 1 of the drawings, we have shown the device installed in a conventional can 15. The lid of the can is indicated at 16 and, in accordance with prevalent pracflange 17 which is crimped around a flange 18 on the side wall of the can for sealing the can and securing the lid in place. Before the lid is applied, the carrier ring13 is slipped over the base of the flange 17 of the lid while the terminal 1% of the ripping element is ooincidently inserted through a suitable opening in the lid. Thus, the lid, with the ripping unit thereon, may be pressed into the upper end of the can, when the can is crimped, as previously noted, for per manently mounting the lid. The terminal 14 of the ripping element is then bent inwardly away from the rim of the can, preferably in the manner shown, and equipped with a key 19. e have illustrated akcy which is struck from suitable sheet, metal and is termed near its outer end with an upstanding loop 20. As will be observed, the terminal 14: is inserted through said loop and bent to form a hook 21 permanently connecting the key with the ripping element to normally lie flat against the lid. Accidental loss of the key is thus obviated while the key will always be readily accessible. Having attached the key, the opening in the lid which accommodates the terminal 14: of the ripping element is finally closed with solder torsealing the can.

' Attention is now directed to the fact that the crimping of the lid upon the can serves rice, the lid is provided with a peripheral to also bend the upper margin of the carrier ring 13 outwardly so that the carrier ring is thus formed with an annular lip or flange which engages over the upper edge of the side wall of the can and is clamped downwardly thereagainst by the flange 17 of the lid. The lip 22 will, therefore, be tightly held to support the ripping unit against downward movemeut into the can while the carrier ring will be tightly clamped between the flange l7 and the side wall of the can. Further, the lid rests against the ripping element 12 so that the ripping unit .will be rigidly and securely bound in place. Accordingly, by grasping the key It) and turning the element 12 thereon, said element will he torn from the carrier ring 13 along the line of slits 11 and caused to rip the lid 16 in a circular line close to the side wall of the can. The can may thus be easily and quickly opened.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, we have illus trated a slight modification ol the invention embodying a ripping unit wherein the carrier ring23 and ripping element :24 are integrally shaped. The ripping element, which is preferably cylindrical in cross section like the element 12 of Figures 1 and i2, is, therefore, solid, but it is to be understood that the ripping element will be capable of being readily flexed so that it may be wound upon a key, like the key 19 and caused to rip a can wall. Formed in the ring 23 immediately above the ripping element is a line of slits Otherwise, this modified structure is identical with the preferred embodiment of the invention and further descrip' tion is accordingly believed unnecessary. However, it is desired to note that while we have illustrated and described an annular ripping unit for use in connection with cylindrical cans, still, we are aware that cans of other shapes are employed for containing 'lood-stufis. In any such instance, the ripping unit will, of course, be shaped accordingly and the term carrier ring as herein used shall, therefore, be construed to cover such variations in shape.

In' Figure 7 of the drawings, we have shown a further slight modification of the invention wherein the ripping unit is provided with a ripping element as previously described but said ripping element is not only formed at one end with a free terminal :26 but is also formed at its opposite end with a free terminal 27. lVe have illustrated the modified structure in connection with a conventional can'28 and, aswill be observed,

the terminal 20 arranged to extend through the top wall of the can to receive a key :29 like the key 19 of Figure 1, while the terminal 27 is arranged to extend through the side wall of the can preferably at the scam therein. Thus, should it be desired to rip the side wall of the can instead of the top wall thereof, a key may be applied to the terminal 27 and the key operated to roll the ripping clement thereon for ripping said side wall.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. An attachn'icnt for metal cans comprising a ripping unit including a carrier ring to be enclosed in a can and fashion with an integral ripping element for ripping a wall of the can, the ring being formed with a line of slits wezkening the connection between said element and the ring.

2. An attachment for metal cans comprising a ripping unit formed from a blank having one n'iargin thereof rolled to form a ripping element and the opposite margin of the blank providing a carrier ring for said element.

An attachment for metal cans comprising a rippin c, unit including a carrier ring fashioned with a rolled. ripping element.

4. An attachment for metal cans comprising a rippin unit formed from a blank shaped to dclme a carrier ring having a ripping element thereon formed from the material of the blank.

5. An attachment for metal cans comprising a rippiugclement formed from a blank shaped to define a carrier ring having a ripping element thereon produced from the material of the blank, the blank being mutilated for weakenii'ig the connection between said element and the ring.

6. A blank for ripping units coml'irising an oblong metallic strip stopped at oneend thereof.

7. A blank for ripping units comprising an oblong metallic strip stepped at one end thereof and mutilated longitudinally substantially in alinemcnt with the upper edge of its stepped portion.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a separate ripping unit for n'letal containers, said unit being shaped from a blank having one margin thereof formed into a bulb providing a ripping element.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signatures.

ABBOTT l CUMBES. HARRY M. KEYSER.

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